The Dent County Commission held their regular meeting Thursday morning at the Dent County Courthouse. District 2 Commissioner Gary Polk was not in attendance due to a previous commitment. In the road report, District 1 Commissioner Wes Mobray said crews would be repairing ruts in a driveway and adding material where needed. He also said they would be creating a list of all the culverts that have to replaced after the flood in November. He also said Jeff Banderet of Great Rivers Engineering is securing permits from the Department of Natural Resources for the county workers to access the creeks and streams for more repair work. Mobray said FEMA will NOT reimburse the county for any work done on roads or bridges without a permit, or any other work associated with a project IF a permit has not been secured. Mobray said workers in District 2 are servicing graders. Presiding Commissioner Gary Larson had nothing to report, and Dent County Clerk Angie Curley said she continues to work on the 2025 county budget. She said the courthouse would be closed New Year’s Day next Wednesday. She also wanted to remind all vendors to have their invoices and statements submitted by 9:00 Monday morning, December 30th, if they want to have them paid this year. Starting in January, the only payments the county can make is payroll until their budget is approved which must be done by February 1st. If you have questions, please contact the county clerk’s office at 729-4144. Dent County Collector Shannon VanKirk wanted to remind everyone her office will have extended hours for those wanting to pay their tax bills in person Friday, through Tuesday can do so from 8:00 in the morning until 5:30. Payments mailed in must be postmarked NO LATER than December 31st. She recommends if you wait until that day to take your envelope inside the post office to have it hand stamped at the window. There is also a drop box in the front of the courthouse at the southwest corner of the courthouse square where you can leave your payments through Tuesday night, December 31st. Payments can also be made online by following the instructions on your real estate and personal property tax bills. The last meeting of the year will be Monday morning at the courthouse and the meeting is open to the public.

The Dent County Health Center (DCHC) Board of Trustees met Thursday evening, December 19th at 5:00. Administrator Zach Moser presented the Service and Statistics report. In the Communicable Disease Report, he stated that due to the departure of the Communicable Disease Nurse there were no COVID-19,  lead, Influenza, or animal bite reports, however there were 10 screenings for sexually transmitted infections, but total tests were not reported. The environmental report by Assistant Administrator Roma Jones showed there where 8 total inspections conducted, no recalls, no sewer complaints, and 10 environmental questions were fielded. The Maternal-Child Health (MCH) statistics showed there was one car seat distributed, one CPR Course, no consultations for Childcare Health, no Show-Me Healthy Women appointments, 10 Title X appointments, 2 Presumptive Eligibility (Temporary Medicaid), and 324 WIC appointments. The Community-Specific Services Summary showed 820 total appointments other than WIC, 109 total provider appointments, 137 treatment court visits, 141 lab appointments and 177 immunization appointments. Nurse Practitioner Service Details showed no Show-Me Healthy Women appointments, 1 family planning, 1 well-child visit, 6 online appointments, no other well-woman exams, 20 other physicals, no SEMO physicals, 16 other visits, and 40 acute illness appointments. Laboratory details showed 158 individual patients, 9 appointments for Rapid Test for COVID, Flu, RSV or Strep, 2 pregnancy tests and no lead tests reported. Immunizations for November totaled 53 for COVID-19, 92 for Influenza, and 32 other vaccines given for a total of 177 total doses given. In the Administrator’s report, Moser reported that the Health Center Lead Assessor training has been completed and that community members can bring in items to be tested with the XRF scanner to see if they have lead. Moser went on to report that the Health Center would conduct a Health Fair May 2nd, 2025, plus the DCHC closed on the property at 1014 East Scenic Rivers Boulevard on December 2nd. Financial reports were reviewed and approved. In new business the Board approved the 2025 budget and an employee Tuition Reimbursement Policy. The Board went in to closed session at 6:00 and returned to open session at 7:24 having voted to approve the 2025 employee compensation adjustment of 4%, with instruction to the administrator to prepare for merit/evaluation-based raises in the next year. The Board also declined all proposals for design services due to the acquisition of 1014 East Scenic Rivers Boulevard and the desire to maintain financial prudence. The next regular meeting of the Board was set for Thursday, January 19th, 2025, at 5:00.